Page 96 of Mine For The Winter

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“It’s Kris, right?”

Kris looked to his left at the guy standing next to him in the line for coffee. The Cold Fingers Café was overrun right now. Dolores had three people working the counter with her and they still couldn’t get the line down fast enough.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“I’m Greg. Reece’s dad. He plays hockey with Cole. I saw you at the last game.”

“Oh yeah, I remember.” Kris shook his hand.

“I was planning to call you. Cole told Reece you’re playing in the father-son game. I’m the dad’s captain.” Greg lifted a brow. “Have you played much hockey?”

“Not recently. Played a lot in high school and college.”

Greg grinned. “Excellent. What was your position?”

“Center, but I’m happy to go anywhere. It’s just some fun, right? We’re not gonna try to beat the kids or anything, are we?”

Dolores called his name and Kris gave her a smile.

“Your usual, honey?”

“Yes, please.” It was funny that he already had a usual. “Can you make a cappuccino, too? I’ll drop it off at the tavern for Kelly.”

Dolores winked at him. “Of course.”

Kris tried not to roll his eyes. For starters, he knew Kelly would hate any gossip about them. They were doing well keeping things on the downlow. But damn, he just wanted to buy the woman he liked a coffee.

“Is Kelly your sister?” Greg asked. From the corner of his eye Kris could see Dolores chuckle.

“No.” Kris shook his head, shooting Dolores a dirty look.

“Oh. He said you were his uncle. You on his dad’s side?”

“Just a good friend,” Kris told him.

“Okay.” The guy shrugged. “I was just wondering. I know Melissa, that’s my wife, wanted to invite Kelly and Cole for dinner. Her brother’s coming to town for Christmas. She thought they might hit it off. He’s newly divorced. A doctor. Thinking of moving closer to here so he can spend more time with us.”

“No.” Kris shook his head.

“I’m sorry.” Greg frowned. “No, as in they won’t hit it off? Or no as in he isn’t moving here. Because I think he is.”

Annoyance rushed through Kris. “No, as in Kelly won’t be able to come to dinner. She’s busy.”

“I didn’t tell you the day,” Greg said. “Hell, we haven’t even thought of a day yet.”

“She’s running the tavern. No nights off.”

“The Tavern is closed Sunday afternoons though, right?”

“Your coffees are ready,” Dolores said, passing the two Styrofoam cups over to him. There was a smile on her face so big that it ramped his annoyance up even more.

“Thanks,” he said, taking them. “I gotta go,” he told Greg. Because there was no way Kelly was going for dinner with this man’s brother-in-law. He turned on his heel and headed for the door.

“Hey, I’ll call you about the game,” Greg shouted.

“Sure,” Kris said through gritted teeth, squeezing past the line of people that spilled out of the door onto the sidewalk. “You do that.”

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